I remember singing as early as six years old, performing "Jesus Loves Me" in my grandfather's church. I was wearing organza and ribbon, which my mother always dressed me in, and I closed my eyes as tight as I could possibly get them. When I opened them everybody was smiling.

The last time I cried was at my cousin Whitney [Houston]'s funeral. I cry when I feel the need to, which is not very often.

Brazil is where I belong, the place that feels like home. They love their family, their country and God, and are not afraid to let anybody know it.

Being a breadwinner is not easy when you're married. The man's ego becomes a bit of a problem and I have experienced that somewhat. I think we need a level playing field.

My worst habit is smoking. I've smoked since college and I don't want to give up. I like it.

I don't get time to dream, you should see my schedule. I get four to five hours' sleep a night and mostly I'm on a plane by 7am. I would like to sleep more.

There are people who have sung my songs and made them their own: Aretha Franklin and Luther Vandross. And then there's a lady called Cilla Black [Warwick was annoyed when Black had a No 1 with "Anyone Who Had a Heart"]. I've met her a few times and it wasn't her fault – it was her management.

I respect young artists who are working towards longevity. I don't know anything about Lady Gaga, but I do know about Mariah Carey and Beyoncé, about Toni Braxton and Anita Baker – people with a lot of bone in their body.

Britain has always been very good to me and apparently I have been good for it. It has embraced me since the early 60s and been consistent and truly loyal.

The problem with fame is you no longer belong to you. You lose your persona and become the object of other people's obsession. I feel watched 90% of the time, but that is something I drew with the cards that I drew.

There are lots of people I consider friends who I also am a fan of. Paul McCartney is a dear friend, so is Mick Jagger and Stevie Wonder is wonderful. We met when he was nine, in Paris, and he was adorably talented.

We are all here to be a service to those who can't be a service to themselves. We can give people hope and more reasons for being human. Our greatest flaw is selfishness – Me, My and I syndrome. There are simple ways to solve it.

Music has changed drastically. We're living in the computer age and I wish we could go back to live musicians and studios, making records together with people who love doing it.

My mainstay is shopping. I like going down to Givenchy and the boutiques. I have bought a lot of beautiful clothes with my money, but I've also earned it.

When it comes to my skills as a parent, I think the proof is in the pudding – two incredible sons and six grandchildren.

Dionne Warwick will be performing across the UK in association with Jazz FM in May and June and at the Royal Albert Hall on 28 May in support of World Hunger Day. For more info please visit jazzfm.com and worldhungerday.org